GAME PREVIEW: Edmonton Oilers vs. New York Rangers

Edmonton Oilers (8-1-0), 1st, Pacific

New York Rangers (6-2-2), 2nd, Metro

05 November 2021

Rogers Place

730 PM MST

TV: Sportsnet West

Radio: 630 CHED

SB Nation Opponent: Blueshirt Banter

EIGHT IS GREAT

Leon Draisaitl had two goals and an assist while Mikko Koskinen turned aside 31 of 33 shots to help secure a 5-2 win for the Oilers. Draisiatl would end up with a three point night (2-1-3), Kailer Yamamoto would pick up his second goal in as many games, while Devin Shore would score his first goal of the season after getting bumped up to the third line. Jesse Puljujärvi added a cherry on top with an empty net marker, and the Oilers would pick up their eighth win in nine games.

The Oilers will look to make it nine wins in ten games as the Rangers are in town tonight. Edmonton will celebrate the career of Kevin Lowe when they retire his sweater number in a pregame ceremony. Can the Oilers keep the good times rolling for sixty more minutes tonight?

Let’s go to the tape.

THE OILERS ARE SAYING

“I’m more than fine giving the puck to someone else to score...I love watching other guys score, it’s my favorite thing. I love scoring myself too, obviously, but I just thought he had a better angle.”

Source

That’s Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl on getting the puck to Jesse Puljujärvi for an empty net goal late in the game.

Leon picked up two goals (one was on the power play) en route to Wednesday’s 5-2 victory. He currently leads the league in points scored with 20 (9-11-20) in nine games.

THE RANGERS ARE SAYING

“They did a great job. Back-to-back-to-back, and that was huge for our group.”

Source

That’s Rangers coach Gerard Gallant after his club’s impressive penalty kill against Vancouver on Tuesday night.

The Rangers killed off three consecutive penalties in their game against the Canucks, but fell short in overtime when J.T. Miller ended it midway through the extra frame. The Rangers rank ninth overall in PK success (86.1%).

HAVE SOME OF THIS

• KEVN LOWE NIGHT: It’s Kevin Lowe night in Edmonton. Lowe’s number 4 will raise to the rafters in a pre-game ceremony, never to be worn by an Oiler again. Lowe was and remains cornerstone of this Oilers franchise from their inception into the NHL until after the fifth Stanley Cup was won. Lowe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the 2020 class. He’ll join all of the Oiler greats in the rafters of Rogers Place tonight. Congratulations are in order.
• ELECTRIC POWER PLAY: Prior to Edmonton’s 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators, they had a 46.2% success rate on the power play. After a power play goal by Leon Draisaitl, it went up. I’m holding out for 50%. That’s crazy talk, but they’re so close already.
• GOALS, INC: The Oilers lead the league in goals scored per game with 4.22. You can erase a lot of warts in your game when you’re the club doing all of the scoring. If the club is scoring one or two goals on the power play every game, this is going to erase a lot of other concerns.
• 2: Kailer Yamamoto went seven games to open the season without scoring a goal, he’s picked up two goals in his last two games. Any more in the bag tonight?
• SHORE? Devin Shore got promoted to the third line last night and scored his first goal of the season. Happy for Shore, but I’ve got to think that Ryan gets back to 3C before long.
• DUELLING NETMINDERS: If having the numbers 1 (Draisaitl)_and 2 (McDavid) point getters on one club didn’t make tonight’s event must-see, how about a goaltending battle? Igor Shesterkin is carrying a killer .943 SV% for the Rangers right now. Mikko Koskinen will go tonight for the Oilers, he’s doing just fine at .934. Mikko Koskinen has played every minute for the Oilers since Mike Smith went down a couple of weeks ago with a lower body injury.
• FOX ON THE RUN: The Rangers have great goaltending, and they’ve got the most recent Norris Trophy winner in Adam Fox on their blue line. Fox also ranks second on the club in scoring with ten points (2-8-10), though I’m way more concerned with the fact that the Rangers allow the third fewest goals per game in the league (2.20/G).
• SICK BAY: Mike Smith is listed as day-to-day with a lower body injury. For the Rangers, Ryan Reaves is on IR.